Legendary Miami Dolphins Kicker Garo Yepremian Dies.

[DinahMoeHum]

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article21153423.html
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Garo Yepremian, the Miami Dolphins’ kicker during their glory years in the 1970s, died on Friday at age 70 after a year-long battle with cancer, his wife Maritza confirmed to the Associated Press on Friday night.

Yepremian, who died in a hospital in Media, Pennsylvania, was the Dolphins’ kicker from 1970 through 1978 and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1970s. Three times, he led the league in field-goal accuracy.

He won the longest game in NFL history when he kicked a 37-yard field goal 7 minutes and 40 seconds into double overtime of the Dolphins’ 27-24 divisional playoff victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day in 1971.

But Yepremian might best be remembered for a blooper in the Dolphins’ 14-7 win against Washington in Super Bowl 7.
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“This is the first time the goat of the game is in the winner’s locker room,” he joked afterward.
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Former Miami Dolphins speak about legacy of former kicker Garo Yepremian
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article21205023.html

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“Obviously, it’s a shock. Garo was only 70 years old and that’s still pretty young in this day in age. He was kidded a lot. A lot of people remember his pass, but he won a lot of football games for us, and was very instrumental in us going 17-0. He fit in with our team. We were all pretty unique spirits — myself, [Larry] Csonka, Manny Fernandez. He fit in very well with that team. … He’s sorely going to be missed.”
— Jim Kiick
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When I was growing up, I started being a fan of the NY Giants, even though they were lousy at the time. But I also became a fan of the Miami Dolphins around 1970, because of Yepremian.
(Ethnic pride and all that)

Rest in Peace, Garo. You truly were an original and one of a kind.